Horse-detacher



(No Model.)

J. M. HARDEN. HORSE DETAGHER.

No. 446,866. Patented Feb. 24,1891.

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PATENT O FICE.

JESSE M. HARDEN, OF REISTERSTOlVN, MARYLAND.

HORSE-DETACHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 446,866, dated February2 1891.

Application filed May 21, 1890. gerial No. 352,615. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEssn M. I'IARDEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Reisterstown,in the county ofBaltimore and State ofMaryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in aCombined Thill- Coupling and Horse-Detacher; and I do declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which'form a part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to combined thillcouplings and horse-detachers, andhas for its object to furnish a device of this class which shall possessvaluable characteristics, as follows: First, it will always take up thewear of the coupling, thus preserving a tight joint and preventingrattling when in use; second, the pin, being always pressed home, is notliable to drop out and thus cause trouble, and, third, it is so arrangedthat the horse, with the thills, can be at any instant detached'from theaxle, thus preventing injury from runaway unmanageable horses.

WVith these objects in view my invention consists in the improvedconstruction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, andafterward specifically pointed P out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of so much of the axle of avehicle as is necessary to show with my invention applied thereto, therest being broken away, and the clips and shaft-iron being shown inhorizontal section. Fig. 2 is a front view of the central portion of theaxle, showing the means for operating my device as a horse-detacher invertical section. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional View.

Like letters of reference mark the same parts wherever they occur in thefigures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings by letters of ref erence, A is the axle, thebroken-away end a being the wheel end and the point I) being the center,and inasmuch as my devices on each side of the center are preciselyalike in construction and function it is not deemed necessary toillustrate but one set.

13 is the ordinary chill-coupling clip,having perforated forwardprojections Q C, said clip toward the outer end of the axle, and form,

with the perforation in the shaft-iron D, a continuous taper from end toend. Vithin this tapering opening of the shaft-iron a tapering steelthimble E is placed. Similar short tapering steel thimbles F F areplaced in the tapering openings in the forward projections G O of thecoupling-clip B.

G is another clip on the axle, nearer to the middle of the axle thanclip B, having a forward projection G perforated in the line of theaxle.

H is the pin which I use instead of the ordinary bolt to connect theclip and shaft-iron. This pin is cylindrical in form from its inner endto near the inner side of the coupling- -clip, and taperingfrom thatpoint to its outer end to fit the three steel thimbles hereinbeforedescribed.

I is a spiral spring wound around this pin, having a bearing at itsinner end against the projection G of clip G and at its outer endagainst a pin or shoulder h, placed in or formed on the pin H, thustending to normally hold the said pin 11 always in its proper place inthe coupling-clip and shaft-iron. At its inner end the pin H is formedwith a hole, a hook, or other suitable appliance by which to attach awire, rope, or chain J, which at its inner end is secured to a pin is,projecting up from a horizontal disk K, mounted on a Vertical shaft L,pivoted in a clip M, secured to the central portion of the axle, whichshaft proj ects up to a position to be within ready reach by the driver,and is provided with a crank or handle L.

On the opposite side of the disk K from pin 7a is a pin it, to which isconnected a cord, wire, or chain J, connecting with a similararrangement of devices to be used in connection with the other shaft ofthe vehicle.

The operation of the steel thimbles and taporing pin will be readilyunderstood, the

spring always holding the pin up into its seat, and the thinlbles takingthe wear off the pin and the coupling-clip. These of course can muchmore readily be replaced when worn than can the other parts. Threethiinbles are necessary to the proper action of the device as ahorse-detacher. Should it be desired to attach an unmanageable horse,all that is necessary is for the driver to give a slight turn to thecrank L, which will cause the pins in both couplings to be drawn inward,thus freeing the horse from the vehicle and avoiding the destruction ofit. The shaft L also passes through a plate M, attached to the body N ofthe vehicle, and has in it a universal joint at N to permit of the usualmovement due to spring 0.

Having thus fully described my invention, WhatI claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters'Pa-tent of the United States, is

1. In combination, the axle, the couplingclip having forward projectionswith tapering perforations, the shaft-iron having a correspondingtapering perforation, the thiinbles, the tapering pin, the subsidiaryclip, and the spring on the pin, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination, the central vertical shaft with handle in reach ofthe driver, the horizontal disk on said shaft, the vertical pin in saiddisk, the tapering coupling-pin, the subsidiaryclip, the coupling-c1ipand shaft-iron with tapering perforations, the three thimbles, and thespring around the coupling-pin, as and for the purpose set forth.

In combination with the axle, the clip or plate M thereon, the body N,the plate M, and the shaft L, having universal joint N, as set forth.

4. In combination, the axle, the shaft-c1ips, the spring-actuated pins,the disk K, connected thereto by means of pins 7.; 7; and rods or cordsJ J, the axle, the wagon-body, the wagon-spring, and the shaft L,attached to the axle and body and; provided with universal joint tocompensate for the movement of the body relative to the axle, as setforth.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JESSE M. lIARDEN.

\Vitnesses:

S. BRASHEARS,

BRASHEARS, Jr.

